A highly-regarded member of the youth ranks at La Liga giants Barcelona was on Wednesday afforded a call-up to senior training.
That’s according to Víctor Navarro of COPE, who points towards Unai Hernández as the player in question.
Hansi Flick’s Barcelona first-team, of course, have been left an option short in the middle of the park, owing to developments on Tuesday night.
After the Blaugrana made the trip to Vallecas for a meeting with Rayo Vallecano, youngster Marc Bernal was hooked deep into injury-time, with a concerning knee problem.
And ensuing tests have since confirmed as much to be an ACL tear, expected to keep the Spaniard out for the remainder of the campaign:
Whilst one door shuts on the progress of one of Barcelona’s most highly-regarded talents, though, the door may well have opened for another.
As per the aforementioned Víctor Navarro, Unai Hernández was afforded a place in first-team training alongside the Blaugrana’s stars on Wednesday morning.
A 19-year-old midfielder, Unai is fresh off a fine opening to the campaign, which saw him net Barca Atlètic’s only goal in a 1-1 stalemate with Real Unión.
He has long been considered a potential star in the making behind the scenes at Barcelona, and fellow starlet Bernal’s injury may well have fast-tracked the Catalan native’s push towards precisely as much.
Conor Laird | GSFN
